3D environment asset of a rustic stone cottage, modeled in Maya and textured in Adobe Substance Painter. The design was inspired by real-world construction techniques, incorporating materials like stone, wood, and glass. Final renders were completed in Unreal Engine 5, with added lighting and smoke effects to create a lived-in, realistic feel. This project highlights my ability to build detailed, optimized environments with an emphasis on texture, structure, and atmosphere.
Rustic Stone Cottage – 3D Environment Model
Software Used: Autodesk Maya, Adobe Substance 3D Painter, Unreal Engine 5
Project Type: Realistic 3D Environment
This environment model features a small rustic stone cottage, created in Maya and textured in Substance Painter. I used a photo of an old house as reference and recreated the structure in 3D with a focus on natural wear and realistic detail.
At first, I used the MASH tool to build unique roof tiles, but later replaced them with a flatter version to improve performance and simplify the design. I textured the model in Substance Painter, adding dirt, moss, and water stains to give the building a worn but still lived-in look. Stone and wood textures helped create a strong mix of warm and cool tones, while the red door was added as a focal point to bring contrast and visual interest.
My background in construction helped guide the design of the chimney, windows, door frames, and other architectural elements. I paid attention to how these parts would be built in real life, which helped make the model feel grounded and believable.
I imported the finished cottage into Unreal Engine 5 and added lighting and smoke effects to create atmosphere. Since this wasn’t a class assignment, I set my own goals and worked through the entire process independently. After receiving feedback, I focused on improving the way the model was displayed, using composition and lighting to tell more of a story. I also checked the UV layout, adjusted the polygon count where needed, and refined the textures to make sure they looked good both up close and from a distance.
This project shows my ability to:
- Model and texture a realistic environment in Maya and Substance Painter
- Apply construction knowledge to improve design accuracy
- Optimize 3D assets for performance and visual quality
- Use Unreal Engine 5 to create lighting and atmosphere
- Present a finished environment with attention to storytelling and detail
The Rustic Stone Cottage shows my skills in building believable 3D spaces and creating environments that feel grounded, lived-in, and visually complete.